In 2009 the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
identified the rising costs of healthcare as the biggest threat to the
sustainability of New Zealand's economy (OECD 2009). There are
several well-recognised drivers for the rising tide of health sector
costs, not the least of which is the coincidence of an aging population
and the "epidemic" of long term disorders such as obesity and
diabetes. Despite the current fiscal environment, there is a strong
case, now more than ever, for high quality health research that
addresses the pressing health and health sector issues facing New
Zealand. Good research is a tool to uncover ways to lift the health of
New Zealanders, and to get ahead of the curve of rising costs.

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) is the
government's principal, but not sole, funding agency for public
good health research. At any one time, the HRC has 320-350 active
research contracts valued at $260-270M. At present, research is being
supported in more than 30 different organisations, by a research
workforce of 2,300 positions (equivalent to around 570 full time posts).
HRC funds the highest quality research, using selection processes based
on open contestability and peer review.

Through the investment in high quality health research, and the
development of the health research workforce, the HRC seeks to create
new diagnostics, treatments, technologies and services, to produce the
evidence upon which the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and
sustainability of New Zealand's healthcare system can be improved,
and to contribute to New Zealanders living longer, healthier, more
independent and productive lives.

The HRC prioritises support for high quality research in
rehabilitation, and injury prevention. New Zealand has a small but
skilled and productive research workforce in these areas. Rehabilitation
and injury prevention research are specifically identified in the
HRC's Investment Signals, the documents that outline the scope,
goals and high level priorities for health research investment by the
HRC.

In the broader context, the HRC has determined priorities for
health research, based on opportunities and needs, and supports research
in four broad areas, called Research Investment Streams (HRC 2011).
Currently, the four Streams are:

* New Zealand Health Delivery, supporting research leading to
innovation and improvement in health service delivery and planning;

* Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions in New
Zealand, for research that will improve the understanding and management
of disease and disability impacting on the lives of New Zealanders;

* Rangahau Hauora Maori, for research that builds an evidence base
for Maori health gains, by utilising and advancing Maori knowledge,
resources and people, and

* Health and Wellbeing in New Zealand, which supports research on
maintaining health and wellbeing throughout the life course.

There are opportunities in each of the four Research Investment
Streams for appropriately targeted injury and rehabilitation research.
For example, research on prevention of injury that is associated with
substantial mortality, morbidity or social cost in New Zealand is a
research priority in Health and Wellbeing, and research on
rehabilitation for a specific disease or injury is within the scope of
Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions. Research on
innovations in rehabilitation technologies or service delivery fits
within New Zealand Health Delivery.

HRC looks to fund the good idea presented in such a way that it
makes a compelling case, backed with a robust research methodology,
carried out by a researcher or team that has the skills to deliver the
research. Increasingly, HRC also looks for the research team that has an
understanding of how they will transfer the knowledge from their
research to appropriate end-users. After all, this is tax-payers'
money, and at some point the tax-payer deserves to recoup the benefits
from the research investment.